Churn Creek Protected
Area

Lewis'
Woodpecker and California Bighorn Sheep

Lewis' Woodpecker:
The Lewis' Woodpecker is medium-sized, with a dark green back and
a reddish chest and face. Its preferred habitat in the Churn Creek
Protected Area includes grasslands with scattered large diameter
trees and riparian cottonwood stands. It usually nests in cavities
excavated by other woodpeckers. During the breeding season, it feeds
mainly on flying insects which, unlike other woodpeckers, are caught
on the wing. Fruits and berries are its main diet in the late summer
and fall. The species is frequently seen throughout Churn Creek
Protected Area, but is considered threatened (blue listed) in British
Columbia due to loss of its grassland habitat.

California
Bighorn Sheep:
A significant population of California bighorn sheep is found at
Churn Creek Protected Area, due to an abundance of suitable habitat
in the area. Bighorn sheep are predominantly grazers that rely on
grassland habitats. Grasses, sedges, and forbs comprise the majority
of their diet, while up to 25% of their diet is shrubs. There are
three distinct herds that use the Churn Creek Protected Area. One
sub-population uses the grasslands of the Protected Area as winter
range and spends summers in the mountains north of Lillooet. The
other sub-population spends all year in the Protected Area, moving
to lower elevation warm aspects along the Fraser River in winter.
Bighorn sheep winter ranges are generally open grassland habitats
on warm aspects where relatively warm temperatures and lack of persistent
snow permit sheep to locate food. These sites are usually associated
with nearby steep terrain. Steep slopes and canyons in the Protected
Area provide valuable escape terrain; sheep can escape down steep
slopes and into treed canyons with great speed and agility. Lambing
areas are usually rugged and remote in order to provide ewes with
security and isolation from predators. Lambing occurs between mid
April and early July, with the peak occurring from mid May to mid
June. Again, because of the destruction of grassland habitats elsewhere
in the province, California bighorns are blue-listed in B.C. California
bighorn sheep are threatened by past overgrazing, competition with
domestic livestock, and loss of habitat due to human encroachment.